Treatment of lymphangiomas of the head and neck in children by intralesional injection of OK-432 (Picinabil)

The treatments previously used for lymphangiomas of the head and neck in ch ildren-surgery and intralesional injection of sclerosants-are associated wi th significant morbidity. A new treatment-intralesional injection of OK-432 -was used for lymphangiomas of the head and neck in 11 children. The result s were total shrinkage in two, marked shrinkage in two, slight shrinkage in five and no response in two. The results were not affected by previous sur gery nor by whether aspiration prior to injection was possible. There were no recurrences in those children in whom shrinkage occurred and no child ha d subsequent surgery following injection. The results of this series suppor t those of previous series showing that OK-432 injection is an effective an d safe treatment for lymphangiomas of the head and neck in children.